I remember reading “The Selected Letters of Margaret Mead” in college. I highlighted a quote from that book that I committed to memory. Today, sitting on the warm, parched cobbled steps, watching the winter sunset over Lisbon from the Alfama District, the quote came rushing back to me:
Loving you is just like breathing, as effortless and as lovely.
As the buildings seemed to shift and settle with the sinking sun, I thought about my relationship with Portugal since touching down in October. Everything you may have heard is true. The history and the rugged coastlines, the flowing wine and soaring cathedrals, the tradition paired with cutting edge legislation and architecture … It is all here. Check out just a few of the articles that have been swirling as of late.
I love Travel and Leisure’s quote, “There’s something for everyone in this little country—and there’s never been a better time to go.”
Conde Nast perfectly summed up Lisbon’s allure by writing, “Distant but unforgotten glory is something of a Portuguese specialty.”
As one of Architectural Digest’s Top Design Destinations of 2017, they write that Portugal has, “quietly been stealing the hearts of travelers looking beyond Spain, Italy, and France.
We couldn’t agree more with this Bloomberg Report that the time to travel in Portugal is “November through February. Warm weather during the winter is one reason to love its location in southern Europe.”
One of our favorite indexes to check when we travel is the Global Peace Index and in the latest report, Portugal is the 5th safest country in the world!
The part I missed the last time we came quickly through this amazing country in 2013, was the remarkable kindness and depth of the Portuguese people. It has been lovely and effortless in every way, every day that I have spent in this country.
As the moment passes, I can feel my relationship with Portugal evolving from a love affair into something much more enduring. The grace of this landscape and these people get more beautiful the more they reveal themselves to me. It is intoxicating. The timeless beauty and accessibility of Portugal transcend the press it is currently receiving.
There is a pearl of collective wisdom here that knows the spotlight will move on so what matters is to remain true to what is authentically Portugal, no matter who is watching …
We would love it if you shared this message with your friends and family …
Today’s Tweetable: Portugal May Be the Next Best Destination!
